Abstract
Breaking up prolonged sitting may improve metabolic health, but the optimal combination of interruption frequency, intensity, and activity type remains unclear. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the acute effects of sedentary interruption strategies on glucose, insulin, and triglyceride responses. Five databases were searched from inception to 1 March 2026. Randomised controlled and crossover trials comparing sedentary interruption strategies or uninterrupted sitting in adults were included. Strategies were classified by frequency, intensity, and activity type. Random-effects network meta-analyses were performed for incremental area under the curve values for glucose, insulin, and triglycerides, with evidence certainty assessed using GRADE/CINeMA. Sixty-eight articles, comprising 72 trials and 1,369 participants, were included. Of the participants, 706 (51.6%) were female, with a pooled mean age of 42.7 ± 19.9 years and a pooled mean BMI of 27.4 ± 5.6 kg/m2. High-frequency light-intensity resistance, moderate-intensity aerobic, light-intensity aerobic, vigorous-intensity aerobic, light-intensity standing, and low-frequency moderate-intensity aerobic breaks reduced glucose responses. High-frequency moderate-intensity aerobic, light-intensity aerobic, light-intensity resistance, and low-frequency moderate-intensity aerobic breaks reduced insulin responses. No strategy significantly improved triglyceride responses. High-frequency interruption strategies showed the most favourable acute effects on glucose and insulin responses, whereas triglyceride responses appeared less responsive.